Bobcat Invite Primer

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball gets the 2025 season rolling with the Bobcat Invite in Athens, Ohio Aug. 29-30 meeting Bucknell and the host Ohio.

Friday, Aug. 29, 2:15 PM CT, vs. Bucknell

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Saturday, Aug. 30, 4 PM CT, vs. Ohio

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ISU faces Bucknell in its 2025 opener Friday. Christy Johnson-Lynch holds a record of 15-5 in season openers. The match marks the 600th of Johnson-Lynch's career as she opens her 21st season, a career spent entirely at Iowa State.

By the Numbers

1 – Morgan Brandt leads all active Big 12 players with 2,689 career assists. The total ranks eighth in program history.

2 – The duo of Maya Duckworth and Nayeli Gonzalez are back, entering 2025 combining for 1,317 career kills.

3 – Christy Johnson-Lynch ranks T-No. 3 all time in Big 12 history with 207 league victories. CJL is the only active Big 12 coach among the top five.

4 – Duckworth stands four double-figure kill matches away from entering the ISU top 10, currently totaling 49 through her career.

600 – Friday's match marks CJL's 600th leading the Cyclones.

The 2025 Cyclones

The 2025 squad features 11 returners, four freshman and three transfers. Preseason All-Big 12 pick Maya Duckworth enters the season with 842 career kills, the fifth-most among active Big 12 players and the T-23rd most by any Cyclone.

Two who earned 2024 Big 12 honors return ready to lead the Cyclones. Amiree Hendricks-Walker earned All-Big 12 Second Team while Rachel Van Gorp earned her spot on the Big 12 All-Rookie Team. Hendricks-Walker hit 181 kills at a .330 clip and totaled 73 blocks in 2024. In conference play, the first-year Cyclone hit at .325 to rank 10th in the Big 12.

Van Gorp, who began 2024 as the libero as a true freshman, transitioned into a front row hitter as ISU dealt with injuries. Van Gorp totaled 323 digs, 92 kills and a team-leading 23 aces in her first year out.

The Opponents

Iowa State will meet Ohio for the second time in series history. The two first met in 2023 when the Bobcats came to Hilton and the Cyclones won 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-13). In 2024, Ohio posted a 14-15 record and went 10-8 in the MAC. Bucknell, who ISU will meet for the first time, went 21-5 including a 13-3 Patriot League record in 2024. The Bucknell Bison were picked to finish third in the 2025 Patriot League preseason poll. Both Ohio and Bucknell are led by first-year interim head coaches.

Next Up

Iowa State heads to Milwaukee for the Panther Invitational. The tournament opens with ISU facing Central Michigan Friday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. Iowa State then plays Milwaukee Friday at 7 p.m., followed by South Alabama Saturday at 1 p.m.

Iowa State hosts its home-opening tournament Sept. 12-14 as Saint Louis and Omaha come to Ames. Single-match tickets are now on sale at this link, while season tickets are still available here.

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Players Mentioned

Morgan Brandt

Maya Duckworth

Nayeli Gonzalez

Amiree Hendricks-Walker

Rachel Van Gorp

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics